Faculty Meeting Minutes
April 29, 2016
Gannett Auditorium
MINUTES
President Philip A. Glotzbach called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
President Glotzbach asked if there were any corrections to, or comments regarding, the minutes of the Faculty Meeting held April 1, 2016. Hearing none, he announced the minutes were approved.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Glotzbach introduced Professor Greg Pfitzer, Chair of the Faculty Development Committee. Professor Pfitzer announced that the prestigious Ralph A. Ciancio Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2016-17 has been awarded to Assistant Professor Masako Inamoto. After a long congratulatory applause, Professor Pfitzer thanked those faculty members who were nominated and agreed to stand for consideration as well as those faculty members who took the time to nominate their colleagues. President Glotzbach offered his congratulations to Assistant Professor Inamoto on her award and thanked the members of the Faculty Development Committee for all their work.Thereafter, President Glotzbach introduced Professor Mehmet Odekon, Chair of the Committee on Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure (CAPT). In accordance with administrative review procedures, Professor Odekon reported that the review of the Collyer Vice President for Advancement has been completed.
President Glotzbach then introduced Joshua Woodfork, Vice President for Strategic Planning and Institutional Diversity, who provided an update on the current search for a new Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. Dr. Woodfork thanked everyone who has participated in the search process so far. The last candidate will be on campus the week of May 2, and Dr. Woodfork encouraged everyone to participate and complete the candidate surveys. Dr. Woodfork stated that the search consultant was amazed at the robust candidate pool for this search and that this result is a testament to the College’s reputation.
Thereupon, President Glotzbach provided a brief update on this year’s admissions situation. Our spring target was to enroll another 346 students (last year our target was 397), because we had already enrolled half the class through early decision. We projected a slightly higher yield this year for the spring pool, between 0.5 and 0.75 percent. As of the day of the meeting, we have enrolled 75 percent of our target for the final group, compared to 67 percent at this time last year. We will know more after the deadline for deposits, which is May 2. It is anticipated, however, that we will be over our target again. President Glotzbach thanked everyone who participated in this year’s admissions process.
President Glotzbach addressed the Board’s response to the report of the Task Force on Divestment, noting that the College committed to reporting to the community on the efforts that the Investment Committee was pursuing to identify an alternative carbon-free or alternative energy fund. The Investment Committee met recently and spent a great deal of time considering two alternative investment options. The first is a fund that is currently under development by a major investment group; they are raising funds and will open it to outside investors (i.e., potentially, Skidmore) when they have raised enough funds – probably in about a year. The second alternative is a fund already established, focusing not only on a carbon-free portfolio but also on companies that produce alternative/renewable energy products. The fund has been quite profitable, and members of the Investment Committee expressed strong interest in investing in it. There is currently about a one-year wait to invest. The Investment Committee was quite clear that it views these opportunities as serious investment options and is committed to making a substantial commitment – not just a “cosmetic one.”
In response to the Committee of the Whole at the previous Faculty Meeting on April 1, 2016, President Glotzbach reported that he had further conversations with Associate Professor Pat Oles, Professor Denise Smith (Chair of FEC), and DOF/VPAA Beau Breslin regarding the comments and concerns made during the Committee of the Whole. President Glotzbach reaffirmed this commitment in Goal I of the Strategic Plan: “Over the next five years, we will develop new ways to engage students and other members of our community in public forums for debating and disseminating ideas relating to contemporary local and global matters (P. 10).” In that context and as a result of the meeting, President Glotzbach reported that we will create opportunities for forums in the fall to hold further discussions on the relationship between institutional values and investment policy, as well as discussions on social justice, diversity/inclusion, freedom of speech, etc. Work will be done over the summer to develop a mechanism for creating these opportunities in ways that allow for collaboration and input.
Lastly, President Glotzbach reported on the funding for the Center for Integrated Sciences (CIS). The CIS is the most strategically significant project for the College at this time, and President Glotzbach reported that he is more optimistic now about the prospect of being able to move forward with it. Previously, the objective was to fund-raise the bulk of the money that will be required to build the project. However, we have not received a major gift for this project yet, so the Board and Cabinet have been discussing alternative pathways to move the project forward. A working group has been established by the Board consisting of three board members, VP Mike West, DOF/VPAA Breslin, Professor Kim Frederick, and the President to pursue alternative funding strategies. At this point, the group is exploring the option of one-third fundraising, one-third borrowing, and one-third shifting resources to the CIS. In order to proceed with the project, we will have to make some priority decisions about how to create the budget necessary to fund the debt service. The Cabinet has been working on this as well, and the President is optimistic we will be able to proceed with the project. There will be opportunities for broader conversations about the importance of the project, especially with members of the science faculty, and about the funding proposal. President Glotzbach indicated that he wanted everyone to be aware of the status of the CIS and the possible pathways to proceed with the project.
DEAN OF THE FACULTY AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS’ REPORT
Beau Breslin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, congratulated Assistant Professor Inamoto on her award and thanked everyone for all their great work this semester. DOF/VPAA Breslin shared data relative to Skidmore’s faculty salaries and total faculty compensation for assistant professors, associate professors, and professors, based upon data from AAUP. DOF/VPAA is pleased that the College has made significant progress over the past few years in increasing Skidmore’s standing on all faculty ranks. He encouraged anyone having any questions about the data to send him an email.
Retirements
On behalf of the Committee on Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure (CAPT), Associate Professor Mehmet Odekon read the following resolution into the record (see attached):
BE IT RESOLVED, that the faculty of Skidmore College expresses its profound appreciation and admiration for the following members of the Skidmore Faculty who have this year expressed their determination to retire:
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- Richard Lindemann, Department of Geosciences
- Mary Stange, Department of Philosophy & Religion
BE IT RESOLVED, that the faculty of Skidmore College expresses its profound appreciation and admiration for Linda Toohey, Chair of the Board of Trustees, for her distinguished service to the Skidmore community.
Thereafter, Associate Professor delivered a tribute to Associate Professor Lindemann; Professor Bill Lewis delivered a tribute to Professor Stange; and President Glotzbach delivered a tribute to Chair Toohey. President Glotzbach presented each of the retirees with a gift, and a congratulatory round of applause and standing ovation was given to each retiree.
OLD BUSINESS
Old Language:
The ID PPC will consist of the ID Program Director and four to eight tenured and tenure-track faculty in at least the third year of consecutive full-time college service and at least the third year of participation in the ID Program. The Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs appoints members to the PPC in consultation with the Director and the ID Program Steering Committee. In cases where a Committee member vacates the position on the Committee, a replacement is appointed in the same manner. Normally the ID Program Director will chair the PPC. If the Director is a candidate, however, the Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs in consultation with the PPC shall appoint a tenured faculty member from the committee to serve as Chair. Once the committee is formed, PPC membership shall remain a fixed number of faculty through a candidate's tenure review. Appointments will be for one term of three years or for two or more consecutive terms, with the latter recommended if feasible. Appointments should ensure that membership is representative of the disciplinary diversity and range in academic rank of faculty actively teaching in the ID program. The majority of committee faculty should be tenured, if possible, and should have prior experience in reappointment and tenure review.
New Language (eliminates the sentence in red above):
The ID PPC will consist of the ID Program Director and four to eight tenured and tenure-track faculty in at least the third year of consecutive full-time college service and at least the third year of participation in the ID Program. The Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs appoints members to the PPC in consultation with the Director and the ID Program Steering Committee. In cases where a Committee member vacates the position on the Committee, a replacement is appointed in the same manner. Normally the ID Program Director will chair the PPC. If the Director is a candidate, however, the Dean of the Faculty/Vice President for Academic Affairs in consultation with the PPC shall appoint a tenured faculty member from the committee to serve as Chair. Appointments will be for one term of three years or for two or more consecutive terms, with the latter recommended if feasible. Appointments should ensure that membership is representative of the disciplinary diversity and range in academic rank of faculty actively teaching in the ID program. The majority of committee faculty should be tenured, if possible, and should have prior experience in reappointment and tenure review.
Professor Odekon explained the rationale for bringing the Motion. There were no questions or discussion on the Motion. Thereupon, the Motion was voted on and passed by majority vote.
Faculty Executive Committee
On behalf of the Faculty Executed Committee, Associate Professor Ron Seyb introduced Associate Professor Michael Arnush, who presented a Resolution to honor President-emeritus David Porter as follows (see attached):
BE IT RESOLVED, that the faculty of Skidmore College wish to record our gratitude and affection for David Hugh Porter, president and professor emeritus, who passed away on March 26, 2016. David was the quintessential teacher-scholar, who during his tenure as the College’s fifth president from 1987-1999 enhanced the prestige of our institution, turning Skidmore into a nationally-recognized liberal arts college. Promoter of the sciences with the expansion of Dana; visionary with the construction of the Tang; tireless in diversifying the faculty, staff, and student body; tenacious in elevating the intellectual tone of the campus; and an enduring example of kindness, civility, and collegiality, David exerted a profound influence on the growth and success of the College. David returned to the College in 2009 as the Tisch Family Distinguished Professor, and he both taught in the Classics and English Departments and performed on the piano for students in the First Year Experience until 2015, while at the same time he continued to contribute to the world of scholarship. Skidmore College’s national reputation, and we the faculty, owe much to David Porter, teacher-scholar-musician-president, and with this resolution we commemorate him and express our deep and abiding appreciation.
The assembly signaled their acclimation by applause.
Committee on Educational Policies and Planning
On behalf of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning, Associate Professor Larry Jorgenson introduced the following Motion (see attached):
MOTION: The Committee on Educational Policies and Planning moves to approve the proposal, originating from the faculty of the Department of Philosophy and Religion, to establish two distinct departments: The Department of Philosophy and The Department of Religious Studies.
Associate Professor Jorgenson explained the rationale for bringing the Motion. An open forum is scheduled on May 6, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. in the Weller Room for further discussion on the Motion. There were no informational questions raised. The Motion will lie over until the next faculty meeting.
Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs
On behalf of the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean of the Faculty Crystal Moore presented the following Motion (see attached):
MOTION: The Dean of the Faculty’s Office proposes the following change to the Faculty Handbook, Part One, Section VIII, Part D.1.b.i Evaluation of the Faculty, Reappointment, Reappointment of Full-Time Tenure-Track and Library Faculty in Professorial Ranks, Third Year; AND Part One, Section VIII, Part D.4.b.i Evaluation of the Faculty, Reappointment, Reappointment of Instructors, Third Year.
PROPOSED LANGUAGE
Evaluation of the Faculty, Reappointment, Reappointment of Full-Time Tenure-Track and Library Faculty in Professorial Ranks, Third Year
Third Year
i. An appointee considered by the department or program to be a candidate for reappointment at the end of the second year will be evaluated
in the third year according to department or program procedures. The department Department orProgram Personnel Committee (PPC)Chair must submit, at a minimum,its a consensus letter signed by all faculty eligible to write on behalf of the candidate as indicated by department or program proceduresthat summarizes 1) the department or program’s overall recommendation, positive or negative, and 2) with supporting the evidence supporting the recommendation to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs) on or before January 153 of the appointee's third year. If faculty members eligible to write on the candidate’s behalf disagree with the consensus letter and therefore cannot sign it, faculty membersmay write an individual letter to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs) on or before January 153 with their recommendation and a summary of the supporting evidence for the recommendation. This evidence must include a cover letter from the Chair and letters from full-time
faculty and those holding shared appointments in the department concerned (in the
ranks defined in Part One, Article VI [Appointments to the Faculty], Sections A [Tenure-Track
Appointments] and E [Non-TenureTrack Appointments], 2b. [Artist- or Writer-in-Residence])
who are in at least their third year of full-time service at Skidmore, and (where
appropriate) Program Directors.
The department or program must present clear and decisive evidence concerning the individual's professional quality and the department or program's need for the candidate's particular abilities in its projected programs.
For tenure-track faculty appointments that are 100 percent in ID programs, supporting evidence sent to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs) must
include a cover letter from the Program Director/PPC Chair(or ID PPC Chair if the Director is a candidate) and letters from faculty on the ID Program Personnel Committee and (where appropriate)
Directors of other programs or Chairs of departments must submit, at a minimum, a letter that summarizes 1) the program’s recommendation, positive or negative, and 2) the evidence supporting the recommendation to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs). If faculty members eligible to write on the candidate’s behalf as indicated by program procedures disagree with the consensus letter and therefore cannot sign it, faculty members may write an individual letter to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs)
on or before January 153 with their recommendation and a summary of the supporting evidence for the recommendation.
The program must also demonstrate need and the candidate's professional quality according
to guidelines described for departments in paragraph two above.
For proportional tenure-track faculty appointments that are shared between two departments,
a department and an ID program or two ID programs, supporting evidence sent to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs) must
include a cover letter from both Department Chairs/ or Program Directorsor PPC Chairsand letters from faculty on the ID Program Personnel Committee, the department and
(where appropriate) Directors of other programs or Chairs of departments must submit, at a minimum, separate letters that summarize 1) the department or program’s recommendation, positive or negative, and 2) evidence
supporting the recommendation to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs). If faculty members eligible to write on the candidate’s behalf as indicated by department or program procedures disagree with the consensus letter and therefore cannot sign it, faculty members may write an individual letter to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs)
on or before January 153 with their recommendation and a summary of the supporting evidence for the recommendation.
The departments and programs sharing the appointment must also demonstrate need and
the candidate's professional quality according to guidelines described for departments
in paragraph two above.
Part One, Section VIII, Part D.4.b.i Evaluation of the Faculty, Reappointment, Reappointment of Instructors, Third Year
Third Year
ii. An appointee considered by the department or program to be a candidate for reappointment at the end of the second year will be evaluated
in the third year according to department procedures. The department Department or PPC Chair must submit, at a minimum,its a letter that summarizes 1) the department or program’s recommendation, positive or negative, and 2) evidence supporting the recommendation with supporting evidence to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs) on or before January 15 of
the appointee's third year. If faculty members eligible to write on the candidate’s behalf as indicated by department or program procedures disagree with the consensus letter and therefore cannot sign it, faculty members may write an individual letter to the Associate Dean of the Faculty (faculty affairs)
on or before January 153 with their recommendation and a summary of the supporting evidence for the recommendation.
The evidence must include a cover letter from the Chair and letters from full-time faculty and those holding shared appointments in the department concerned
who are in at least their third year of fulltime service at Skidmore, and (where appropriate)
Program Directors.
ADOF Moore explained the rationale for bringing the Motion. Discussion on the Motion followed concerning the entities that were consulted prior to bring the motion (i.e., chairs, program directors, FEC, CAPT), when the change would take effect, potential increased transparency among colleagues in a department, and concerns about potentially loosing individual faculty voices. ADOF Moore reminded everyone that this proposal only concerns third year reviews when a department chair makes a recommendation for reappointment and that evaluation letters written by individual faculty members and the department chair are not reviewed by CAPT. The Motion will lie over until the next meeting.
OTHER
On behalf of the Committee on Educational Policies and Planning, Assistant Professor Kelly Sheppard presented CEPP’s proposed new general education curriculum (see attached for full details). In the fall, CEPP will bring a motion to adopt the new general education curriculum and will ask that the Motion lay over for two faculty meetings so that there is sufficient time to have in-depth conversations about the curriculum. Assistant Professor Sheppard indicated that there are still some details that will need to be worked out through an implementation committee. Thereafter, an opportunity for questions and comments was given, at which point some faculty members indicated their ability or inability to support the proposal; clarification requested on the quantitative reasoning requirement, the foreign language requirement, and the CODA/Senior Experience; whether a student could fulfill the requirements without taking a non-western course; concerns about the rebranding of the expository writing requirement; whether there are sufficient courses to fulfill the requirements; and concerns about the impact on faculty workload.
ANNOUNCEMENTS- On behalf of the Advisory Committee on Off Campus Programs, a subcommittee of CEPP, Associate Professor Erica Bastress-Dukehart reported that starting in the fall, the Paris program will be administered by IES.
- Paul Calhoun, Dean of Special Programs, announced the summer arts calendar is now available.
- On behalf of Periclean Honors Forum, Professor Catherine Golden reminded everyone that this year’s Academic Festival will be held on May 4, 2016 and announced that Associate Professor Flagg Taylor will be taking over as Director on June 1, 2016.
- DOF/VPAA Breslin invited everyone to the special retirement reception in the Tang immediately following the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,